The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-09-28
Teasing Children.

One of the commonest practices, and
one that should be strongly condemned
by mothers and guardians, is the per-
nicious habit of teasing children. Some
people take particular pleasure in pro-
voking little child to anger. They
will torment and harass it just to see
it's ewes flash and its little hands close
tightly, and when this end is attained
they laugh heartily at the picture of
anger and Indignation they have
wrought. Should the child under this
provocation resent by an angry word or
action the torture these people are
heaping on it, that is a very different
thing altogether; they are Mortified at
the expression or action; the child
is impudent or vicious; its mother
ought to punish it, Generally the
mother or guardian does chastse it,
although in their hearts they feel that,
in Justice, the child is not to blame and
the punishment belongs elsewere. sob,
dear" you will hear these people ex-
claim after an exhibition such
as the above, that child is
so hot-tempered and irritable,
if it isn't controlled when it is young
the parents will have hard time with it
when it is older" They are fond of
citing, as an example for this child to
initiate. one of their acquaintance
who is totally dissimilar in disposition
to the irritable one. The model child
never gets angry, no matter how long
they may torment it. 1t takes it all
good-naturedly and never thinks of
such a thing as resenting it. They
usually attribute this trait in child
as the result of proper training, when,
as a rule it has very little to do with
it. There are two kinds of children
that do not mind teasing, and these are
the ones that are usually set up as
models. One is of naturally amiable
disposition, and will good
take great deal of teasing before re-
sentlng it. The other is of the don't
care" kind. and would as soon be tor
mented as praised. A child that is in
different to either censure or praise
will bear watching, for such child
seldom amounts to much when
grown up.
Where there is large family of
children the irritable child will be tor
mented and annoyed by its brothers
and sisters enough on account of its
unfortunate disposition, without the
aid of older people. Children are
very quick to follow in the footsteps of
older folks and are very observant.
Seeing that the irritable member of
the family is always the same one
chosen by grown folks to tease, they
very readily learn to initiate the latter,
and, if not seen to by the parents, the
tormented child will have a miserable
time of it even III it's own home, the
place of all others where it should be
protected. Parents should not allow
teasing in the home, and more particu-
larry where the subject of it is child
of such a temperament as the above.
To be sure there is no necessity for
spelling such child by allowing it
more privileges than the other chill
dren. No, indeed. 1t will not ask any
more. 1t will be perfectly contented
to be let alone to quietly enjoy the
same privileges as the other children
without the fear of being annoyed on
every occasion by reference to its un-
fortunate disposition.
Other children are very sensitive to
teasing who are not of irritable tenn
peraments, and these little ones are
tormeuted even more than the others.
They will stand Just so much annoy
ance without sign of resentment. un-
til the first intimat on they give of be-
ing hurt is q flood of tears. Then in a
contemptuous tone the epithet "cry-
baby" is applied to them 10y their per-
secutors. All children, but more par
ticularly sensitive children, like the
above, like to stand we'll in the estima-
nation of older people, and will do all
in their power to further this. They
work so hard to do what is right that
when their little peculiarities are held
up to ridicule they are bitterly grieved,
and their disappointment is so great
that their only relief is in tears. They
do not care that other children tease
them, they do not mind them but very
little, and get over it in short time
but that grown people, to whom they
have never done anything to deserve it,
should ridicule them until they cry,
and then heap insult on injury by call
ing them "cry-babies, is too much for
their sensitive natures, and it is not to
be wondered at their hearts being very
re.-AmericdH CuLtiUGtOr.
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